Predetermined counter value setting device



c. SANSONE 2,645,426

PREDETERIINED COUNTER VALUE SETTI QG DEVICE Filed m. 26.

July 14, 1953 ave/{m4 ARLo Slew/save Patented July 14, 1953 PREDETERMINED COUNTER VALUE SETTING DEVICE Carlo Sansone, Genoa, Italy Application February 26, 1948, Serial No. 11,206 In Italy May 4, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires May 4, 1963 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a counting device comprising a counting unit adapted to operate a control when the driven shaft of the counting unit has accomplished a predetermined number of revolutions, a number dial adapted to transmit to the counting unit the digits of the selected number, an intermediate mechanism connecting the counting unit to the number dial, arranged in a manner to allow the mathematical addition (sum or subtraction) of a new number to the number already recorded on the counting unit, and a device for disengaging the counting unit from the remainder of the device prior to the transmission of the digits.

Other characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the annexed specification and drawings, and from the claims.

In the annexed drawings are illustrated by Way of example a preferred embodiment of the counting device in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatically a front and a plan view of a practical embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly broken away of the brake which acts upon the number dial;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing details of the construction of the stops; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational View on an enlarged scale of the cam shaft.

Figs. 1 and 2 represent a practical embodiment of the invention adapted for controlling a machine or a plant in which it is necessary to fix rapidly, beforehand, the number of revolutions to be accomplished before the disengaging of the power source, and adapted to be used, for instance, to stop looms, spinning frames and the like. In order to illustrate the operating means of the device according to Figures 1 and 2, assume one wants to close the circuit [9-20 when driving shaft 26 has accomplished 30004 revolutions. The counting unit employed is provided with counter discs, 3 digit pinions rotating loose on their axes and all of them (except the last) engaging pinions l6 loosely mounted on a shaft. The latter shaft, by means of a knob ll and an eccentric 28, may either be shifted, together with pinions [6, from disc shaft 26 for disengagement or effect an opposite movement for engagement. The counting unit is of a type in which the disengaging movement subtracts one unit from the counting-unit, while the coupling operation adds one unit to the counting unit, but it will be apparent that other types of counting units may be used. In the counting unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, i6 designates the forward carrying pinion. If we add '7 plus 8, we have 15, and we write 5 and we carry forward 1; the pinion l6 similarly carries forward said 1 and causes a partial rotation proportional to l of the successive toothed drum 3 of the counter, while the preceding drum 3 of the counter accomplishes a partial rotation Which is proportional to 5. I1 is the knob of the counter, by means of which the eccentric plate 28 disengages all the pinions Hi from the gears which are connected to the drums 3, so that the drums 3 are idle on the shaft of the knob ll. 26 is the shaft of the knob ll, said shaft is connected to the first drum 3 in such manner that, for each revolution of the shaft 26 the first drum 3 is compelled to accomplish a partial rotation correspondin to one rotation of the shaft 26. If the drum is constructed for counting l0 revolutions, said partial rotation will be 36. 28 is a small eccentric plate mounted on the shaft of the knob ll. A partial revolution of the knob i! and of its shaft and of the plate 28 causes a slight rocking movement of the support of the pinions l6 so that said pinions l6 become disengaged from the toothed wheels connected to the drums 3. The drums 3 are each provided with the numbers 1, 2 9, 0; said numbers may, if desired be omitted in the present construction; each drum 3 is fitted on one side with a toothed gear 3a which meshes with one of the pinions it. Each drum is also fitted on the other side with the usual two pins for the further carrying forward of the units from one drum 3 to the successive drum 3. The first drum 3 is connected to shaft 26, the other drums 3 are freely mounted on the shaft 26. v

In order to set the counting device of the invention for operation after 30004 revolutions as above-mentioned, the counting unit, which is connected to shaft 28 is set on the position zero by means of the knob N. Then, by means of knob ll, pinions [6 are shifted and the disengagement of the decimal drums t is obtained. The motion which has caused said disengagement simultaneously shifts the counting unit from 00000 to position 99999.

The finger of the operator is then introduced in the 4th hole of the number disc marked with figure 3 and the dial is rotated until the stop 2! is reached, then the dial is released and it comes back to its resting position under the action of springs l3 and 0f the centrifugal brake M. The

brake l4 may be of any convenient type. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the brake [4 includes a shaft 30 which is disposed adjacent gear 22 of Fig. 2 and acts by centrifugal force. On the shaft 30 is mounted a collar 31 on which are pivoted two arms 32 acted upon by springs 33 which urge the arms 32 toward the shaft 30 and are pushed aside by the centrifugal forces arriving upon rotation of the shaft 30. The arms 32 exert their braking action by sliding on the interior surface of a fixed drum 34 positioned around the shaft 30. Number 3 has thus been formed, 1. e. the counting unit has been brought to position 69999. The motion of the dial 5 is transmitted to selector bracket 1 through intermediate gears 22, 23, i and 6 and shaft 2. The selector bracket is mounted on shaft 2 and rotated towards the right. The pawls 8 are lifted by fixed blade l5 at the beginning of the revolution, then the pawl engageable with the selection gear I corresponding to digit drum 3 representing the tens of thousands, engages thi selector gear which effects a rotation of 3 of a revolution of this digit pinion recording the three. During the backwards run of selector 2', ratchet wheel mounted on cam shaft 9 engages abutment H and rotates of a revolution thereby driving the cam shaft 9 which, in this manner, lifts the pawl which has been in engagement and prepares the next pawl 8 for action. The selector gears are rotatably mounted on shaft 2 and each one engages a digit drum 3. The cam shaft 9 carries cams 9a which are adapted to engage each of the pawls 8 suecessively as the shaft rotates. A stop of L-shaped cross section is shown at la.

The number dial 5 compels selector '5 to accomplish one clockwise rotational movement which can be considered as comprising two parts. The first one begins from the rest position of selector 7 when it lies at the left against an abutment, not shown, fixed on member and ends when pawl 8 which is in working position and, sliding on the upper face of member l5, falls into engagement with the teeth of gear I. At the beginning of this rotational movement of the selector "I, when it is at the left as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the pawl 3 rests upon shaft 9 in accordance with the position of the corresponding cam carried by this shaft, as shown in Fig. 5. The pawl is in working position but is not in engagement with the teeth of wheel l because it is maintained in disengaged position by the action of the arcuate projection of the member l5 upon which the end of the pawl rides. Upon continued rotational movement of the selector 7, the pawl 8 comes to the end of the arcuate projection of the member 15 and drops into engagement with the teeth of wheel I. This is the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. This rotational movement corresponds to the rotation accomplished by dial 5 when one puts a finger in hole 0, and rotates the dial as far as the stop 21. This first part of the rotational movement of selector 1 is used only for driving the cam shaft 9, a driving which will take place during the backward movement of selector 1. The second part of the rotational movement of selector '1 is effected when the finger introduced in any of the holes (except 0) of dial 5, engages the stop 21. This second part of the selector rotation operates digit drum 3 and it compels it to rotate 360 of a revolution) if one has put the finger in the 11th hole of the number dial 4 marked 00 or by compelling it to rotate 324 for hole 9 and so on down to 36 (1% of revolution) for hole 1. For hole "0 no rotation of decimal drums 3 takes place, but one effects only the rotation of cam shaft 9 when the selector accomplishes his return movement.

In order to form the first two zeros of number 30004, one puts his finger in the 11th hole of number dial 5 (the hole marked 00) rotating it to the right as far as the finger meets the stop 21. Then the dial is released and returns to its resting place. Under the influence of these movements selector '1' has rotated clockwise, compelling the second decimal drum 3 to rotate 91 of a revolution thus recording the first zero. During the return course of the selector ratchet 10 engages in succession abutment l2 and abutment ll. As shown in Fig. 4, the abutments II and I2 comprise an abutment member which is pivoted at 35 and is rotatable in the direction 36 by reason of compression of the spring 3? but is prevented from rotation in the opposite direction by the projection 38. In this way the digit pinion of the third position will stay without moving and it will be the pawl of the 4th digit pinion which will be ready for action. In this manner the second zero of 00 will be recorded. The counting unit is still in the position 69999.

In order to form the third zero of number 3000 1, one puts his finger in the first hole of the number dial 5 rotating it as indicated above. This movement is translated into a small clockwise displacement of selector 7 but, during this displacement, the pawls, as they have not yet been at work, cannot engage the selecting gears because they are lifted by the fixed blade 15. The digit pinion of the 4th position therefore, will not be driven, and will form the third zero. The selector, by its return course will cause the engagement of ratchet l0 against abutment ll disengaging thereby the fourth pawl and preparing the fifth for action. The counting unit is still in the position 69999.

In order to form the 4 of number 30004, one puts his finger into the fifth hole of number dial 5 and moves it as before. The movements obtained are similar to those caused by the formation of the three already described. The counting unit is now in the position 69995. The engagement of ratchet H] with abutment ll ensures the disengagement of the fifth pawl and prepares once more the action of the first pawl for the formation of the next figure to be recorded after the accomplishment of the process effected by the operation described above.

As soon as the number has been formed, the countin unit is coupled by means of knob IT. This engaging movement which is the opposite of the disengaging movement made at the beginning and which has caused the subtraction of one unit, will cause the addition of this unit, so that the counting unit will pass from position 69995 to position 69996. After the accomplishment of 30004 revolutions, the device will close the circuit l9-20 under the action of the projection l8 on the drum representing tens of thousands shown at the bottom of Fig. 2.

The disposition of the shafts bearing gears B, 4, 22, 23 allows the easy modification of the direction of rotation of selector 1 with regard to the number dial 5, so that one may employ a counting unit which rotates to the right or left.

It will be noted that it is possible to add a certain number of revolutions to the first chosen and recorded number or to add a given number of supplementary revolutions durin the operation and this is done simply by disengaging the counting unit, by means of knob I7.

It will be noted further that it is necessary to number all the digit positions of the counting unit, i. e. with a 5 digit counting unit, one must record number 00253 when one wants the counting unit to cause an impulsion after 253 revolutions of the driving shaft. This is done in order to allow the pawls to be in a suitable position before the next numbering and in order to obtain the correct recording of number 253 which would become 25300 if one omitted to form the 00 before the 2.

It will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and the embodiments illustrated and described are not to be considered as limiting the invention.

I claim:

1. A counting device comprising a counting unit having a plurality of digit pinions, a plurality of selecting gears rotatably mounted on a shaft in meshing engagement with said digit pinions, a number dial having holes for receiving a finger, means connecting the number dial with the shaft, bracket means fixedly mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of pawls pivotally mounted on said bracket means for engagement with the teeth of the said selecting gears, cam means rotatably mounted in said parting partial rotation to said cam means dur- 7 ing rotation of said shaft.

2. A counting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the number dial has a hole corresponding to the digits 00 and further comprising a second abutment means spaced from said firstnamed abutment means and positioned in the path of said cam means for imparting partial rotation to said cam means after the cam means has been partially rotated by the first abutment means.

3. A counting device as defined in claim 2, further comprising means for raising all of the pawls out of engagement with the teeth of the selector gears when the device is at rest and preventing engagement of said pawls with said gears during a predetermined angle of rotation of said bracket means.

4. A counting device as defined in claim 1 further comprising an electrical interruption device, and a projection on one of the digit pinions of the counting unit, said projection being positioned to actuate said electrical interruption device upon movement of the digit pinion upon which it is mounted into a predetermined position.

CARLO SANSONE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,444,503 Hathaway Feb. 6, 1923 1,869,999 Cary Aug. 2, 1932 1,884,663 Greenberg Oct. 22, 1932 1,869,575 Sebille Nov. 29, 1932 1,911,863 Webner May 30, 1933 1,932,965 Greenberg Oct. 31, 1933 1,944,034 Proctor Jan. 16, 1934 1,966,118 Greenberg July 10, 1934 1,971,828 Morton Aug. 28, 1934 2,008,876 Rehder July 23, 1935 2,040,026 Spaunberg May 5, 1936 2,040,646 Erickson May 12, 1936 2,161,630 McDonnell June 6, 1939 2,253,650 Richard Aug. 26, 1941 2,415,854 Sheffield Feb. 18, 1947 2,479,482 Edler Aug. 16, 1949 2,489,659

Moser Nov. .29, 1949 

